“Church History,” 1 March 1842

same ordinances, gifts, powers, and
blessing, as was enjoyed on the eastern continent, that the people were
cut off in consequence of their transgressions, that the last of their
prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an abridgement of
their prophesies, history &c., and to hide it up in the earth,
and that it should come forth and be united with the bible for the
accomplishment of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more
particular account I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be
purchased at Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

As soon as the news of this discovery was made
known, false reports, misrepresentation and slander flew as on the wings
of the wind in every direction, the house was frequently beset by mobs,
and evil designing persons, several times I was shot at, and very
narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the plates
away from me, but the power and blessing of God attended me, and several
began to believe my testimony.

On the 6th of April, 1830, the “Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” was first organized in the town of Manchester

Settled 1793. Formed as Burt Township when divided from Farmington Township, 31 Mar. 1821. Name changed to Manchester, 16 Apr. 1822. Included village of Manchester. Population in 1825 about 2,700. Population in 1830 about 2,800. JS reported first vision of...

JS organized the church in 1830 as the “Church of Christ”; an 1838 revelation established the full name of the church as used here.a The earliest
sources place the meeting at Fayette, New York, and later JS
documents support this designation.b Some later documents, including the present history, locate the meeting at Manchester. The discrepancy may originate with William W. Phelps, who was not involved with the church at the time of its organization and therefore appears to have misidentified the location. While preparing the Book of Commandments for publication based on Revelation Book 1, the editors (who included Phelps) added “given in Manchester, NY” to a 6 April 1830 revelation in chapter 22.c Records linked to Phelps or
Orson Pratt (who was also not present at the church’s organizational meeting and who later spoke of Fayette as the correct location) state that the 6
April meeting took place in Manchester.d Later printings of the
Doctrine and Covenants and Pratt’s Interesting Account either omit references to Manchester as the site
or revise the meeting place to Fayette.e

Revelation Book 1 / “A Book of Commandments and
Revelations of the Lord Given to Joseph the Seer and Others by the Inspiration
of God and Gift and Power of the Holy Ghost Which Beareth Re[c]ord of the
Father and Son and
Holy Ghost Which Is One God Infinite and Eternal World
without End Amen,” 1831–1835. CHL.

JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856.
Vols. A-1–F-1 (original),
A-2–E-2 (fair
copy).
CHL. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death
of Joseph Smith.

A
Book of Commandments, for the Government of the Church of Christ, Organized
according to Law, on the 6th of April, 1830. Zion [Independence], MO:
W. W. Phelps, 1833.

Revelation Book 1 / “A Book of
Commandments and Revelations of the Lord Given to Joseph the Seer and Others by
the Inspiration of God and Gift and Power of the Holy Ghost Which Beareth
Re[c]ord of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost Which Is One God Infinite and
Eternal World without End Amen,” 1831–1835. CHL. Also available in Robin Scott
Jensen, Robert J. Woodford, and Steven C. Harper, eds., Manuscript
Revelation Books, facsimile edition, first volume of the Revelations
and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers, edited by
Dean C. Jessee, Ronald K. Esplin, and Richard Lyman Bushman (Salt Lake City:
Church Historian’s Press, 2009).

Pratt, Orson. A[n] Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions,
and of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records. Edinburgh:
Ballantyne and Hughes, 1840.

Journal of Discourses. 26 vols. Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1855–1886.

Pratt, Orson. Remarkable Visions. By Orson Pratt, One of the Twelve
Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Liverpool: R.
James, 1848.

Some few
were called and ordained by the spirit of revelation, and prophesy, and
began to preach as the spirit gave them utterance, and though weak, yet
were they strengthened by the power of God, and many were brought to
repentance, were immersed in the water, and were filled with the Holy
Ghost by the laying on of hands. They saw visions and prophesied, devils
were cast out and the sick healed by the laying on of hands. From that
time the work rolled forth with astonishing rapidity, and churches were
soon formed in the states of New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

Area first settled by Swedish immigrants, 1628. William Penn received grant for territory from King Charles II, 1681, and established British settlement, 1682. Philadelphia was center of government for original thirteen U.S. colonies from time of Revolutionary...

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

; in the last named state a considerable settlement
was formed in Jackson co.

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

; numbers joined the church and we were
increasing rapidly; we made large purchases of land, our farms teemed
with plenty, and peace and happiness was enjoyed in our domestic circle
and throughout our neighborhood; but as we could not associate with our
neighbors who were many of them of the basest of men and had fled from
the face of civilized society, to the frontier country to escape the
hand of justice, in their midnight revels, their sabbath breaking,
horseracing, and gambling, they commenced at first ridicule, then to
persecute, and finally an organized mob assembled and burned our houses,
tarred, and feathered, and whipped many of our brethren and finally
drove them from their habitations; who houseless, and homeless, contrary
to law, justice and humanity, had to wander on the bleak prairies till
the children left the tracks of their blood on the prairie, this took
place in the month of November, and they had no other covering
but the canopy of heaven, in this inclement season of the year; this
proceeding was winked at by the government and although we had warrantee
deeds for our land, and had violated no law we could obtain no
redress.

There were many sick, who were thus inhumanly
driven from their houses, and had to endure all this abuse and to seek
homes where they could be found. The result was, that a great many of
them being deprived of the comforts of life, and the necessary
attendances, died; many children were left orphans; wives, widows; and
husbands widowers.—Our farms were taken possession of by the mob, many
thousands of cattle, sheep, horses, and hogs, were taken and our
household goods, store goods, and printing press, and type were broken,
taken, or otherwise destroyed.

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

where they
continued until 1836, three years; there was no violence offered but
there were threatnings of violence. But in the summer of 1836, these
threatnings began to assume a more serious form; from threats, public
meetings were called, resolutions were passed, vengeance and destruction
were threatened, and affairs again assumed a fearful attitude, Jackson
county

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

was a sufficient precedent, and as the authorities in that county
did not interfere, they boasted that they would not in this, which on application to
the authorities we found to be too true, and after much violence,
privation and loss of property we were again driven from our homes.9

Although some of
the original settlers of Clay County were determined to see the
Latter-day Saints leave the county, the conditions surrounding the Saints’ departure were markedly less violent than was the
earlier episode in Jackson
County. (See Parkin, “History of the
Latter-day Saints in Clay County,” chap. 8.)

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

Area in northwest Missouri settled by European Americans, 1830. Sparsely inhabited until 1838. Created from Ray Co., Dec. 1836, in attempt to resolve conflicts related to Mormon settlement in that region. County is transected diagonally from northwest to ...

counties,
where we made large and extensive settlements, thinking to free
ourselves from the power of oppression, by settling in new counties,
with very few inhabitants in them; but here we were not allowed to live
in peace, but in 1838 we were again attacked by mobs [p. 708]

same ordinances, gifts, powers, and
blessing, as was enjoyed on the eastern continent, that the people were
cut off in consequence of their transgressions, that the last of their
prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an abridgement of
their prophesies, history &c., and to hide it up in the earth,
and that it should come forth and be united with the bible for the
accomplishment of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more
particular account I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be
purchased at Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

As soon as the news of this discovery was made
known, false reports, misrepresentation and slander flew as on the wings
of the wind in every direction, the house was frequently beset by mobs,
and evil designing persons, several times I was shot at, and very
narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the plates
away from me, but the power and blessing of God attended me, and several
began to believe my testimony.

On the 6th of April, 1830, the “Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” was first organized in the town of Manchester

Settled 1793. Formed as Burt Township when divided from Farmington Township, 31 Mar. 1821. Name changed to Manchester, 16 Apr. 1822. Included village of Manchester. Population in 1825 about 2,700. Population in 1830 about 2,800. JS reported first vision of...

JS organized the church in 1830 as the “Church of Christ”; an 1838 revelation established the full name of the church as used here.a The earliest
sources place the meeting at Fayette, New York, and later JS
documents support this designation.b Some later documents, including the present history, locate the meeting at Manchester. The discrepancy may originate with William W. Phelps, who was not involved with the church at the time of its organization and therefore appears to have misidentified the location. While preparing the Book of Commandments for publication based on Revelation Book 1, the editors (who included Phelps) added “given in Manchester, NY” to a 6 April 1830 revelation in chapter 22.c Records linked to Phelps or
Orson Pratt (who was also not present at the church’s organizational meeting and who later spoke of Fayette as the correct location) state that the 6
April meeting took place in Manchester.d Later printings of the
Doctrine and Covenants and Pratt’s Interesting Account either omit references to Manchester as the site
or revise the meeting place to Fayette.e

Revelation Book 1 / “A Book of Commandments and
Revelations of the Lord Given to Joseph the Seer and Others by the Inspiration
of God and Gift and Power of the Holy Ghost Which Beareth Re[c]ord of the
Father and Son and
Holy Ghost Which Is One God Infinite and Eternal World
without End Amen,” 1831–1835. CHL.

JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856.
Vols. A-1–F-1 (original),
A-2–E-2 (fair
copy).
CHL. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death
of Joseph Smith.

A
Book of Commandments, for the Government of the Church of Christ, Organized
according to Law, on the 6th of April, 1830. Zion [Independence], MO:
W. W. Phelps, 1833.

Revelation Book 1 / “A Book of
Commandments and Revelations of the Lord Given to Joseph the Seer and Others by
the Inspiration of God and Gift and Power of the Holy Ghost Which Beareth
Re[c]ord of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost Which Is One God Infinite and
Eternal World without End Amen,” 1831–1835. CHL. Also available in Robin Scott
Jensen, Robert J. Woodford, and Steven C. Harper, eds., Manuscript
Revelation Books, facsimile edition, first volume of the Revelations
and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers, edited by
Dean C. Jessee, Ronald K. Esplin, and Richard Lyman Bushman (Salt Lake City:
Church Historian’s Press, 2009).

Pratt, Orson. A[n] Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions,
and of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records. Edinburgh:
Ballantyne and Hughes, 1840.

Journal of Discourses. 26 vols. Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1855–1886.

Pratt, Orson. Remarkable Visions. By Orson Pratt, One of the Twelve
Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Liverpool: R.
James, 1848.

Some few
were called and ordained by the spirit of revelation, and prophesy, and
began to preach as the spirit gave them utterance, and though weak, yet
were they strengthened by the power of God, and many were brought to
repentance, were immersed in the water, and were filled with the Holy
Ghost by the laying on of hands. They saw visions and prophesied, devils
were cast out and the sick healed by the laying on of hands. From that
time the work rolled forth with astonishing rapidity, and churches were
soon formed in the states of New York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

Area first settled by Swedish immigrants, 1628. William Penn received grant for territory from King Charles II, 1681, and established British settlement, 1682. Philadelphia was center of government for original thirteen U.S. colonies from time of Revolutionary...

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut Western...

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

; in the last named state a considerable settlement
was formed in Jackson co.

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

; numbers joined the church and we were
increasing rapidly; we made large purchases of land, our farms teemed
with plenty, and peace and happiness was enjoyed in our domestic circle
and throughout our neighborhood; but as we could not associate with our
neighbors who were many of them of the basest of men and had fled from
the face of civilized society, to the frontier country to escape the
hand of justice, in their midnight revels, their sabbath breaking,
horseracing, and gambling, they commenced at first ridicule, then to
persecute, and finally an organized mob assembled and burned our houses,
tarred, and feathered, and whipped many of our brethren and finally
drove them from their habitations; who houseless, and homeless, contrary
to law, justice and humanity, had to wander on the bleak prairies till
the children left the tracks of their blood on the prairie, this took
place in the month of November, and they had no other covering
but the canopy of heaven, in this inclement season of the year; this
proceeding was winked at by the government and although we had warrantee
deeds for our land, and had violated no law we could obtain no
redress.

There were many sick, who were thus inhumanly
driven from their houses, and had to endure all this abuse and to seek
homes where they could be found. The result was, that a great many of
them being deprived of the comforts of life, and the necessary
attendances, died; many children were left orphans; wives, widows; and
husbands widowers.—Our farms were taken possession of by the mob, many
thousands of cattle, sheep, horses, and hogs, were taken and our
household goods, store goods, and printing press, and type were broken,
taken, or otherwise destroyed.

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

where they
continued until 1836, three years; there was no violence offered but
there were threatnings of violence. But in the summer of 1836, these
threatnings began to assume a more serious form; from threats, public
meetings were called, resolutions were passed, vengeance and destruction
were threatened, and affairs again assumed a fearful attitude, Jackson
county

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

was a sufficient precedent, and as the authorities in that county
did not interfere, they boasted that they would not in this, which on application to
the authorities we found to be too true, and after much violence,
privation and loss of property we were again driven from our homes.9

Although some of
the original settlers of Clay County were determined to see the
Latter-day Saints leave the county, the conditions surrounding the Saints’ departure were markedly less violent than was the
earlier episode in Jackson
County. (See Parkin, “History of the
Latter-day Saints in Clay County,” chap. 8.)

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

Area in northwest Missouri settled by European Americans, 1830. Sparsely inhabited until 1838. Created from Ray Co., Dec. 1836, in attempt to resolve conflicts related to Mormon settlement in that region. County is transected diagonally from northwest to ...

counties,
where we made large and extensive settlements, thinking to free
ourselves from the power of oppression, by settling in new counties,
with very few inhabitants in them; but here we were not allowed to live
in peace, but in 1838 we were again attacked by mobs [p. 708]

Capital city located on eastern seaboard of Massachusetts at mouth of Charles River. Founded by English Puritans, 1630; received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith...

, owner and editor of the weekly Chicago Democrat, to write to JS requesting
a summary of the doctrines and history of the Latter-day Saints.
Barstow was working on a history of New Hampshire, and he sought
information about the Mormons for possible inclusion in the book.
Barstow ultimately made 1819 the closing date of his
study, and because the Mormons did not organize as a
church until 1830, they did not have a place in his volume. JS’s essay was published instead as “Church History” in the church’s newspaper Times and Seasons.1

George Barstow, The History of New
Hampshire from Its Discovery, in 1614, to the Passage of the
Toleration Act, in 1819 (Concord, NH: I. S. Boyd, 1842). Barstow’s initial interest in Mormonism may have been prompted by recent Latter-day Saint missionary activity and church growth in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. (See Eli P. Maginn, Salem, MA, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 22 Mar. 1842, Times and Seasons, 2 May 1842, 3:778–779; see also Williams, “Missionary
Movements of the LDS Church in New England,”
128–133, 147–156.)

Barstow, George. The History of New Hampshire: From Its Discovery, in
1614, to the Passage of the Tolerant Act, in 1819. Concord, NH: I. S.
Boyd, 1842.

Times and Seasons.
Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb.
1846.

Williams, Richard Shelton. “The
Missionary Movements of the LDS Church in New England, 1830–1850.” Master’s
thesis, Brigham Young University, 1969.

Opportunities for favorable treatment of the church in
non-Mormon publications were rare, and some previous attempts had
not been entirely successful. On 4 January 1833, JS wrote a letter to Noah C. Saxton

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

newspaper American Revivalist, and Rochester
Observer. JS told Saxton that the
letter had been written “by the commandment of God” and asked the
editor to publish the entire letter, but Saxton published only
excerpts. JS wrote again on 12 February 1833 asking that the whole
of his previous letter be “laid before the public,” but Saxton did not publish it.2

In 1836, in a
volume titled The Religious Creeds and Statistics
of Every Christian Denomination in the United States and British Provinces,
editor John Hayward included a summary of the Book of Mormon and short excerpts
from the Doctrine and Covenants as well as a statement of beliefs
furnished by church member Joseph Young

7 Apr. 1797–16 July 1881. Farmer, painter, glazier. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Moved to Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York, before 1830. Joined Methodist church, before Apr. 1832. Baptized into LDS...

, but these
materials were bracketed by negative statements from Isaac Hale

21 Mar. 1763–11 Jan. 1839. Farmer, hunter, innkeeper. Born in Waterbury, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Reuben Hale and Diantha Ward. Member of Methodist church. Moved to Wells, Albany Co., New York (later in Rutland Co., Vermont), ca. 1771, to live with...

Hayward, Religious Creeds and
Statistics, 130–142. In 1842 Hayward published The Book of Religions; Comprising the Views, Creeds, Sentiments, or Opinions, of All the Principal Religious Sects in the World, Particularly of All Christian Denominations in Europe and America; to Which Are Added Church and Missionary Statistics, together with Biographical Sketches (Boston: John Hayward, 1842). After referring to the material on “Mormonites” in his 1836 volume, Hayward excerpted passages from “Church History.” (Hayward, Book of Religions, 260–266.)

Hayward, John. The Religious Creeds and Statistics of Every Christian
Denomination in the United States and British Provinces. With Some Account of the
Religious Sentiments of the Jews, American Indians, Deist, Mahometans,
&c. Boston: By the author, 1836.

Hayward, John.
The
Book of Religions; Comprising the Views Creeds,
Sentiments, or Opinions, of All the Principal Religious Sects in the World,
Particularly of All Christian Denominations in Europe and America; To Which Are
Added Church and Missionary Statistics, Together with Biographical
Sketches. Boston: John Hayward, 1842.

In 1839, the editor of the St. Louis Gazette asked church apostle John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland Co., England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodists and was local preacher. Migrated from...

for an
article about the church but then declined to print it; Taylor published the history himself as A Short Account of the
Murders, Roberies, Burnings, Thefts, and Other Outrages Committed by the Mob and Militia of the State of Missouri, upon the Latter Day Saints.4

John Taylor, A Short Account of the
Murders, Roberies, Burnings, Thefts, and Other Outrages
Committed by the Mob and Militia of the State of Missouri, upon
the Latter Day Saints. The Persecutions They Have Endured for
Their Religion, and Their Banishment from That State by the
Authorities Thereof ([Springfield, IL]: [By the author],
[1839]).

Scott, Franklin William. Newspapers and Periodicals of Illinois,
1814–1879. Springfield, IL: Illinois State Historical Library,
1910.Taylor, John. A Short Account of the Murders, Roberies, Burnings,
Thefts, and Other Outrages Committed by the Mob and Militia of the State of
Missouri, Upon the Latter Day Saints. Springfield, IL: By the author,
1839.

’s request with a
“sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the
Latter-Day Saints.” In this history, which later came to be known among Latter-day Saints as the “Wentworth letter,” JS recounted his first vision
of Deity and the production of the Book of Mormon. He also included a
thirteen-point summary of Latter-day Saint beliefs, known today as
the Articles of Faith.5

In 1851, Franklin D. Richards
published the Articles of Faith as part of a pamphlet titled The
Pearl of Great Price: Being a Choice Selection from the
Revelations, Translations, and Narrations of Joseph Smith, First
Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. The entire Pearl of Great Price, including
the Articles of Faith, was canonized as scripture in 1880. (See
Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 2:234–238; see also Whittaker, “Articles of Faith,” 63–78.)

The Pearl of Great Price: Being A Choice Selection from the Revelations,
Translations, and Narrations of Joseph Smith, First Prophet, Seer, and Revelator
to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Liverpool: Published
by F. D. Richards, 1851.

Whittaker, David J. “The ‘Articles of Faith’ in Early Mormon Literature and
Thought.” In New Views of Mormon History: A Collection of Essays in Honor of
Leonard J. Arrington, edited by Davis Bitton and Maureen Ursenbach
Beecher, 63–92. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1987.

The essay appeared under the title “Church History” in the 1 March 1842 issue of the Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

Pratt, Parley P., and Elias Higbee. An Address by Judge Higbee and
Parley P. Pratt, Ministers of the Gospel, of the Church of Jesus Christ of
“Latter-day Saints,” to the Citizens of Washington, and to the Public in
General. N.p., 1840.

Pratt, Parley P. Late Persecution of the Church of Jesus Christ, of
Latter Day Saints. Ten Thousand American Citizens Robbed, Plundered, and Banished;
Others Imprisoned, and Others Martyred for Their Religion. With a Sketch of Their
Rise, Progress and Doctrine. By P. P. Pratt, Minister of the Gospel, Written in
Prison. New York: J. W. Harrison, 1840.

Other individuals may have been involved in compiling the essay, including Willard Richards

10 July 1803–31 May 1878. Bookseller, editor, historian, insurance agent, teacher, translator. Born in East Pennsboro (later in Hampden), Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania. Son of George Rupp and Christina Boeshor. Member of Reformed faith. Moved to Allen, Cumberland...

,
or others, JS took responsibility for “Church History” when it was
published in the Times and Seasons. His name
appears as author, and a note below his name further confirms his
approval: “This paper commences my editorial career, I alone stand
responsible for it, and shall do for all papers having my signature
henceforward.”9

10 July 1803–31 May 1878. Bookseller, editor, historian, insurance agent, teacher, translator. Born in East Pennsboro (later in Hampden), Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania. Son of George Rupp and Christina Boeshor. Member of Reformed faith. Moved to Allen, Cumberland...

JS, “Church History,” in Times and Seasons (Nauvoo, IL), 1 Mar. 1842, vol. 3, no. 9 (whole no. 45), pp. 706–710; edited by JS; includes typeset signature. The copy used for transcription is currently part of a bound volume held at CHL; includes later underlining.

The five-page article is the second item in this number of the Times and Seasons. The issue comprises eight leaves, making sixteen pages that measure 9 x 5¾ inches (23 x 15 cm). The text on each page is set in two columns. The copy used for transcription has apparently been in continuous church custody since its purchase in the early twentieth century.1

A previous owner’s bookplate and stamp are found on the inside front cover, as is the selling price of the volume, marked in graphite now erased. A blank flyleaf has the same previous owner’s stamp.